- Act 3: Quest 14 - Find out where Alduin has retreated
Prerequisites: Completion of the quest "Alduin's Bane". Quest Giver: Paarthurnax or Master Arngeir or Esbern Region: Dragonsreach/Whiterun (previously The Throat of the World or High Hrothgar or Sky Haven Temple) Reward: Words of Power OD, AH, VIING (Calling the dragon Odahviing)
Summary: In order to destroy Alduin once and for all, you must discover his place of retreat. Therefore, you must capture another dragon and force him to reveal this information. However, the capture requires the consent and cooperation of the Jarl of Whiterun. Depending on the political situation, appropriate diplomatic steps must be taken to achieve this.
Completing this quest is considered an achievement.
Quest Description
Speak with Paarthurnax or speak with Arngeir or speak with Esbern
It does not really matter who you speak with to progress in this quest. Since you are currently on the Throat of the World, you can address Paarthurnax directly. He admits that this was not a definitive victory over Alduin and expresses the suspicion that one of his allies might be able to help. Paarthurnax has the idea to capture a dragon in Dragonsreach and then persuade him to betray Alduin. However, he is also aware that the Jarl of Whiterun would first have to be persuaded to allow this, but he believes in the persuasive power of the Dragonborn. Paarthurnax sympathetically recalls when Numinex was captured there ages ago.
If you walk a few steps down the mountain, Master Arngeir tells you that they heard the Dragonrend shout all the way down here but saw Alduin fly away to the east. Regarding the plan to use Dragonsreach as a trap, he expects difficulties from the Jarl but has no better idea. He reminds you that the Way of the Voice prepares you for much more than just combat, and that you should trust in the strength and truth of your own voice during the upcoming conversations.
If you additionally head to Sky Haven Temple, Esbern expresses the same suspicion as Master Arngeir: that Alduin has retreated to Sovngarde to lick his wounds and gather new strength from the souls of fallen warriors. Esbern also agrees that the idea of the trap in Dragonsreach is brilliant. However, in the very same breath, he tells you about his discovery of who Paarthurnax actually is. This automatically triggers the quest of the same name.
Speak with the Jarl of Whiterun
The continuation of the main quest at this point depends on the political situation in the land.
If the Hold of Whiterun is still under the rule of the Imperials, Balgruuf the Greater is the Jarl of Whiterun.
If the Stormcloaks hold at most one hold, the Jarl will immediately agree to the plan to use Dragonsreach as a trap.
If the Stormcloaks control more than one hold, or if you have not yet participated in the Civil War, the Jarl cannot agree to the trap plan due to security concerns.
If Whiterun has been taken by the Stormcloaks, Vignar the Revered is the Jarl of Whiterun.
If the Imperials hold at most one hold, the Jarl will immediately agree to the plan to use Dragonsreach as a trap.
If the Imperials control more than one hold, the Jarl cannot agree to the trap plan due to security concerns.
You can gain the Jarl's consent by ending the Civil War through combat or progressing it far enough that the Jarl of Whiterun feels secure. However, if you have killed Paarthurnax, you are forced to win the Civil War, as the angered Greybeards will refuse to assist with any peace negotiations.
If the Jarl refuses his consent, you can argue that Alduin's return poses a greater danger than the Civil War. Nevertheless, the Jarl will only allow a dragon into the city if the fighting in the province stops at least temporarily. A truce would be necessary, and negotiations would have to take place on neutral ground. The only neutral territory is High Hrothgar, and since the Greybeards are respected by everyone, they would be the ideal mediators and hosts for peace negotiations.
Gain the Greybeards' assistance in negotiating a truce
In the event of an ongoing Civil War, the intermediate quest "Season Unending" is now activated. In it, the warring factions must be invited to High Hrothgar, and you must negotiate a truce.
Learn the shout to call Odahviing
If you were forced to call the peace council, this point regarding the shout must still be resolved. After the negotiations have concluded and Ulfric has left the round table, the question is raised as to how to lure a dragon into Dragonsreach. For this purpose, Esbern has previously researched in the Blades' library and discovered that the names of dragons consist of three Words of Power. If you use such a name as a Thu'um, the called dragon will hear it, no matter where he is. Dragons are naturally arrogant creatures and would never refuse such a challenge, especially when called with the Voice of the one who defeated Alduin. The dragon will be unable to resist and will answer the call. According to Blades records, one of these reanimated dragons bears the name Od...Ah...Viing, which translates to "Winged Snow Hunter". As Esbern speaks the name, you automatically learn the new shout.
If the Jarl of Whiterun agrees to the trap plan without the need for peace negotiations, you can learn the dragon's name (and thus the shout) from Paarthurnax instead.
Set a trap for Odahviing / Call Odahviing to Dragonsreach
You can now use the new dragon call anywhere and at any time. Odahviing will fly in, but he will remain out of reach for any interaction. Therefore, you must travel to Whiterun and speak with the Jarl about the capture. As soon as you are ready, follow the Jarl to the rear part of Dragonsreach. The Great Porch is a massive open hall with a balcony from which you can call the dragon. Shortly after shouting into the sky, you will hear the red dragon approaching from the south and feel the heavy beat of his wings.
Odahviing follows the call of his name.
Defeat and trap Odahviing
As expected, the dragon attacks immediately, grabbing an unfortunate guard in mid-air and letting him fall to his death from a great height. Time and again, he flies in and attacks with fire breath. He also lands on the ramparts, setting the defenders on fire, and takes off again for a new attack.
Odahviing lands on the ramparts of Dragonsreach and attacks.
You can taunt him with a bow and arrow so that he lands and follows you. However, the Dragonrend shout is more effective, as it prevents Odahviing from flying away in the first place. Once the dragon has landed, you should move deeper into the hall so that he follows by crawling. It is not possible to kill him, and you should focus entirely on luring him into the hall. Once he reaches the area of the chains, the trapping mechanism is activated by the guards, and the furious dragon is captured.
Odahviing is lured into the hall with a bow and arrow.
Interrogate Odahviing
Odahviing is simultaneously surprised, humiliated, and impressed. He feels like a trapped bear. His eagerness to face the Dragonborn in battle proved to be his undoing. Despite his predicament, the cunning involved in devising this trick impresses him. Before you even ask him a question, he knows it is about Alduin and mentions that many of them are now questioning Alduin's lordship, though so far none of them have been willing to openly oppose him.
The captured Odahviing can now be interrogated.
When asked where Alduin is hiding, Odahviing replies that he has traveled to Sovngarde to regain his strength. There, he absorbs the souls of the mortal dead. The portal to Sovngarde is located in Skuldafn, a very ancient temple in the eastern mountains. Odahviing then wants to be released.
However, the opportunity is perfect to attempt to win the dragon over as a servant. Odahviing rejects the idea but is willing to consider it once Alduin is defeated. Furthermore, he points out that Skuldafn cannot be reached without wings. He offers to fly the player there but wants to be freed first.
Before you discuss further details of his release with Odahviing, the quest ends at this point. The conversation is continued in the next thematic Quest.
Known Bugs
If Vignar is the Jarl of Whiterun and you have not completed any Companions quests yet, the captured Odahviing might not speak and remain hostile.
If you are standing too close to Odahviing when the trap snaps shut, you could clip through the floor and fall into the void. Fast-traveling away and returning can help fix this.
Tips & Notes
Delphine will send the player to Esbern and will refuse to speak about anything else until Esbern reveals the truth about Paarthurnax and demands his death. Once he has communicated this to the player, Delphine will become available for any ongoing side quests again. However, as long as Paarthurnax is alive, neither of them will discuss new topics or side quests.
While Odahviing is imprisoned in Dragonsreach, other dragons you fight during this time will begin to shout, "Skuldafn fen kos dinok!" ("Skuldafn will be your death!") at the player. They will repeat this consistently between their combat shouts.
The guards in the city are impressed and praise this historic achievement.
Children in Dragonsreach complain that they are not allowed near the dragon.
The Jarl praises the glorious masterpiece, no longer doubts the Dragonborn, and compares the player to the legendary Olaf One-Eye.
Irileth wishes the beast were gone and tells you to do what is necessary with it.
an unfortunate guard in mid-air and letting him fall to his death
from a great height. Time and again, he flies in and attacks with fire breath
. He also lands on the ramparts, setting the defenders on fire
, and takes off again for a new attack.
then wants to be released. 
an unfortunate guard in mid-air and letting him fall to his death
from a great height. Time and again, he flies in and attacks with fire breath
. He also lands on the ramparts, setting the defenders on fire
, and takes off again for a new attack.
then wants to be released. 
in Dragonsreach, other dragons you fight during this time will begin to shout, "Skuldafn fen kos dinok!" ("Skuldafn will be your death!") at the player. They will repeat this consistently between their combat shouts.
